Fluid operated spring loaded jack lock assembly

ABSTRACT

A spring loaded jack lock assembly for supporting a workpiece at fixed points. The assembly includes a vertically movable plunger adapted to be fixedly located in a work supporting position by locking elements adapted to engage opposite sides of the plunger. A camming member is provided to move the elements into locking engagement with the plunger. A power operated piston-cylinder assembly has a rack and gear connection with the camming member to operate it.

United States Patent C ay omb 1451 Sept. 12, 1972 [54] FLUID OPERATED SPRING LOADED 1,254,044 1/1918 Johnson ..269l316 X JACK LOCK ASSEMBLY 3,362,295 1/ 1968 Galbarini ..269/296 X [72] Inventor: Dean Claycomb, 2320 Haggerty 2,829,566 4/1958 Geeks ..269/20 X Road Walled Lake Mich 48088 3,323,789 6/1967 McCann ..269/35 2,518,102 8/1950 Ward... ..269/35 [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1970 3,273,878 9/1966 Blatt ..269/35 X [211 App No. 61 378 3,421,750 1/1969 Tridgell ..269/20 Related Application Data Primary Examiner-Wayne A. Morse, Jr.

An -Wh'tt H lb rt& B lk [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 662,031, Aug. army 1 emore u e e nap 21, 1967, Pat. No. 3,537,701. [57] ABSTRACT 52 US. 01. ..269/20, 269/296, 269/310, A spring waded jack P assembly P 269/321 ME worlzp1eee at fixed pomts. The assembly lncludes a 51 161. c1. ..B23q 1/22, B23q 3/18, B25b 11/00 "Mable PP be .fixedly [58] Field 6: Search ..269/34, 289, 296 309, 310 mated a suppmmg by mkng 269/20 321 ments adapted to engage opposite sides of the plunger. A camming member is provided to move the elements [56] References Cited into locking engagement with the plunger. A power operated piston-eylinder assembly has a rack and gear UN STATES PATENTS connection with the eamming member to operate it.

3,537,701 11/1970 Claycomb ..269/309 13 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures l we, /30 Z/22/4 Z24 204 #36 2/6 20 Z0? 25 2 F 9 L1:1111 ,4 /z e 7 i PM? PATENTEDsEm m2 3.690.641

sum 1 or 3 F'lG.l

INVENTOR 0/54 A. CL AYCO/ IB ATTORNEYS PATENTED 12 I972 3.690.641

sum 3 or 3 2/6 ma 2oz INVENTOR 0454 A. CZAYCOMB 'oRNEYf FLUID OPERATED SPRING LOADED JACK LOCK ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a spring loaded jack assembly is disclosed for supporting a portion of a body or casting upon which a machining operation is to be performed and having improved actuating means for locking the assembly in an adjusted work supporting position.

Another object is to provide improved power means for actuating the assembly.

' Another object is to provide an assembly having a vertically movable worksupporting plunger.which is clamped in vertically adjusted position by locking elements on opposite sides thereof,'in which the actuating means for urging the locking elements into clamping engagement with the plunger comprises cam surfaces associated with the elements and camming means adapted to act upon the cam surfaces to force them apart.

Another object is to provide camming means in the form of a rotatable member having anti-friction means engaging the cam surfaces associated with the locking elements.

Another object is to provide an assembly in which the actuating means for the locking elements includes a rod secured to one of the elements and extending slidably through the other of the elements, a head on the rod spaced from the other element, cam surfaces on the confrontingfaces of the other element and the head, and a rotatable camming member being disposed between the cam surfaces.

Another object is to provide anti-friction means in the form of a line of balls freely mounted in an axially extending bore in the rotatable member.

Another object is to provide improved power means for actuating the device, preferably including a rack and gear connection to the rotatable camming member.

'Another object is to provide power means in the form of an improved fluid operated piston-cylinder assembly.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a work table or fixture plate having fixed end supports and intermediate adjustable work supporting and locking devices for supporting a casting or workpiece which is illustrated in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the fixture plate and related equipment illustrated in FIG. 1 with the casting being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is asectional view through one of my improved work support and locking devices taken substantially on the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through my improved work support and locking device taken substantially on the line 44 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view with parts broken away and in section taken substantially on the line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a modification.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are sectional views taken on the lines 9--9, 10-10 and 11-11 respectively, in FIG. 7.

1 and-2 and is provided with an upper horizontal flat V surfacel2. The casting or workpiece 14 to be machined is supported on the fixture plate 10 by three jacks or solid supports l6, l8 and 20, portions of which are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as is well known in the art.

The top surfaces 21 of the solid supports l6, l8 and 20 are located in the same plane. When the casting 14 is mounted on the solid supports 16, 18 and 20, it is in the proper and required plane for machining. It isnecessary to support the intermediate portions of the casting 14 in orderto prevent it from deflecting during the machining operation. Spring loaded jacks or jack assemblies 22 are provided for this purpose. In addition, the casting 14 may if desired be bolted to a pair of threaded posts, not shown, as is well known in the art. The top surfaces 86 of buttons 84 on the plungers 48 of the jack assemblies engage the rough cast surfaces of the casting 14 to form a solid support after the plungers are locked in place. Thereafter, during milling, boring or other machining operations, the jacks 22 will prevent the intermediate portions of the casting from deflecting. Any number of jack assemblies may be used depending on the size of the casting.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the construction of one of the jacks 22 in specific detail. The assembly 22 there shown comprises a body 26 having a horizontal bore 28 and a vertical bore 30 which intersect one another. The vertical bore 30 is located between the end surfaces 32 and 34. A tubular portion 36 extends vertically upwardly from the body 26 and may be integralwith the body as shown or otherwise secure-d thereto. The tubular portion 36 has a bore 38 which is axially aligned with the bore 30 in the body 26.

Any suitable means are provided to secure the body 26 to the fixture plate 10, such as bolts for example, as is will known in the art.

The jack assembly 22 further includes a cylindrically shaped plunger 48 which is reciprocally movable in the Opposite sides of the plunger 48 are relieved to provide relatively flat and inclined locking surfaces 54 and 56. These locking surfaces converge toward the inner end 60 of the plunger, as shown in FIG. 3. The locking surfaces 54 and 56 are inclined at the same angle which is preferably about 6. It has been found that the locking angle may be in the range of 4-7 inclusive for best results although in certain applications other angles may be used. The locking surfaces 54 and 56 are located on the exterior of the plunger 48 starting at the place designated by the numeral 58 and terminating at the inner end 60 as shown in FIG. 3.

Elongated axially extending slots or openings 62 and 64 are provided in diametrically opposite sides of the plunger 48, opening through the locking surfaces 54 and-56 and extending to the bore 50 of the plunger. These openings 62 and 64 start at the place designated 66 and extend down to the inner surface 60 of the plunger 48 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The openings or slots 62 and 64 and the bore 50 provide a transverse passageway for the reception of an axially movable actuating rod 70 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The plunger 48 has a cylindrical spring can or element 72 movable longitudinally in the bore 50. The can 72 is formed with an internal bore 74 which is closed at the lower or inner end thereof. A biasing spring 78 is located in the bore 74 having one end in pressure con tact with the inner end wall 76 of element 72 and the other end in pressure contacts with the surface 52 closing the upper end of bore 50. The can or element 72 is held in bore 50 by means of a transversely extending pin 80 located at the inner end portion of the plunger 48 as shown in FIG. 3.

The top end of plunger 48 is provided with a recess or socket 82 which receives the reduced end of the locator or locating button 84. The end of the locating button 84 is secured in socket 82 by any suitable means such as by a threaded connection. The button 84 has a surface 86 engageable with the casting 14. The button 84 forms an extension of plunger 48. A downwardly turned dirt shield 88 is secured on the plunger 48 as shown in FIG. 3 by any suitable means. The shield 88 includes a skirt portion 90 which surrounds the upper end of plunger 48 and the extension 36. The shield 88 is movable with the plunger 48 and helps to prevent dirt or dust from entering the upper end of bore 38.

The elongated actuating rod 70 is threaded on its inner end at 92. A pair of longitudinally aligned and spaced apart locking sleeves or elements 94 and 96 are located in the bore 28 on opposite sides of plunger 48. The end of rod 70-is threadedly connected to sleeve 96 which has a threaded bore 98. The end surface 100 of sleeve 96 adjacent the plunger 48 is inclined at a locking angle (such for example as 6corresponding to the locking angle on the locking surface 56 of plunger 48. The top of the inner sleeve 96 is formed with an elongated slot or keyway 105 which extends the entire length thereof. A guide pin 106 carried by the body 26 extends into the key way 105 to prevent the inner sleeve 96 from rotating.

The outer sleeve 94 has an internal smooth bore 108 through which rod 70 slidably extends. The end surface 112 of sleeve 94 adjacent the plunger is inclined at a locking angle (such for example as 6) corresponding to the locking angle on the locking surface 54 of the plunger 48. The top of sleeve 94 is formed with an elongated slot or keyway 116 which extends from the inclined end surface 112 past the midpoint in the length of the sleeve. A guide pin 118 carried by body 26 extends into the keyway 116 to prevent the outer sleeve 94 from rotating. An expansion plug or closing element 113 is received in the end of bore 28 to close it as shown in FIG. 3. The opposite enlarged end 28' of bore 28 is closed by a dust cover 115.

The rod has a head 120 on the outer end provided with six peripheral recesses 122, only one of which is shown in FIG. 3. A tubular member or head 124 is sleeved on the outer end of the rod and bears up against head 120. Head 124 slides in the enlarged part 28 or bore 28. Fasteners 126 thread into the head or member 124 and the heads of the fasteners are disposed in the recesses 122 to prevent relative rotation between rod 70 and member 124. An elongated keyway or slot 128 formed in the upper surface of head or member 124 extends for the full length of the head. A guide pin 130 carried by body 26 extends into keyway 128 to prevent head 124 and rod 70 from rotating.

A rotatable camming member 132 in the form of a gear is provided between head 124 and sleeve 94. This camming member has a central axial bore through which the rod 70 slidably extends. The camming member 132 is formed with two axially extending bores 134 and 136. These bores are diametrically opposite one another and spaced outwardly from the central axis of the camming member 132. A line of freely rotatable balls 138 is disposed in each of the bores 134 and 136.

The end surface of sleeve 94 adjacent the camming member 132 is designated 140. The end of the head 124 adjacent the camming member 132 is designated 142; The end balls 138 in each of the bores 134 and 136 contact the surfaces 140 and 142.

These surfaces 140 and 142 are specially contoured camming surfaces as will be apparent from FIG. 5. Such surfaces are contoured so as to be more deeply recessed at the points 144 and 146 than at the points 148 and 150. Thus the surface 140 is of gradually reduced depth circumferentially from the point 144 to the point 148, and the surface 142 is of gradually reduced depth circumferentially from the point 146 to the point 150. In the rotative position of the camming member 132 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the end balls 138 are disposed near the deepest ends of the camming surfaces 140 and 142. Rotation of the camming member 132 approximately 90 clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 4 will move the end balls 138 of the camming member 132 into the shallower ends-of the cam surfaces 140 and 142 indicated at 148 and 150 to spread the sleeve 94 and head 124 apart. It will be understood that the rod 70, head 124 and sleeve 96 move axially as a unit.

When the rotatable camming member 132 is in the FIG. 5 position, the locked sleeves 94 and 96 do not firmly engage the plunger 48, so that plunger 48 may be adjusted vertically. The spring 78 urges the plunger upwardly at all times. However, when the camming member 132 is rotated clockwise from the FIG. 4 position, the head 124 and locking element 94 are urged apart thereby drawing the locking element 96 toward locking element 94 to frictionally engage the corresponding inclined locking surfaces 100 and 112 with the locking surfaces 54 and 56 on the plunger 48 to thereby locate the plunger 48 and hence surface 86 in the required position to supportan intermediate portion of the casting 14 during a machinging operation. The locking sleeves 94 and 96, when moved toward each other have a pinching action on the plunger 48 to securely lock it in a vertically adjusted position. With this construction the plunger 48 can be located and locked in any position of vertical adjustment between its upper and lower limits of movement.

I Novel power rneansare provided for rotating the camming member 132. Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the body 26-has a transverse integral portion 160 formed with a bore 162 extending from end to end thereof. Bore 162 extends crosswise of bore 28 and is in communication with the latter directly beneath the rotatable member 132. The bore 162 forms the cylinder of a piston-cylinder assembly 164. Thepiston of this assembly is designated 166 and has a peripheral groove 168 which accommodates an 0-ring seal 170.

peripheral gear teeth 176 in mesh withthe rack teeth 174.

A plate 180 secured over one end'of the body portion 160 closes one end of cylinder 162 and has a port 182 for the admission of fluid under pressure such as hydraulic fluid. The opposite endof the cylinder 162 is closed by a plate l84secured to the opposite end of body portion160. f V 1 A compression coil spring 186 extends into an axial bore 188 in the rack extension 172 and bears against the inner endl90 thereof. The opposite end of the spring 186 bears against the closure plate 184 and is centered by a pin 194 carried by plate 184.

The spring 186 will normally retract the piston 166 to the FIG. 4 position thus turning the camming member 132 to the positionshown in which the adjacent inclined ends 100 and 112 of the locking sleeves 94 and 96 do not pinch tightly upon the plunger 48. When it is desired to lock the plunger 48 in adjusted position, fluid under pressure introduced to the cylinder 162 through port 182 moves piston 166 to the left in FIG. 4 to rotate the camming member 132 by the rack and gear connection to a position in which the ballsl38 engage the shallow or high points 148 and 150 of the camming surfaces 140 and 142 in order to draw the locking elements 94 and 96 into firm locking engagement with the corresponding locking surfaces 54 and 56 of the plunger. When the fluid pressure in cylinder 162 is relieved, piston 166 returns to the FIG. 4 position unlocking the plunger 48. Any suitable means, such as a manually operated valve, may be provided to admit fluid pressure to cylinder 162 or to relieve the pressure therein.

FIGS. 6-11 illustrate a modification in which corresponding parts bear the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1-5. The actuating means and power means in the modification are of a different construction than that previously described.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the locking sleeve or element 94 has an end portion 200 formed with parallel slots 202 on opposite sides of the rod 70. Rollers 204 are journaled for rotation in the slots 202 by hubs 206. The hubs 206 are axially aligned with one another.

The head 124 has an end portion 210 which also is slotted. Thus end portion 210 has the spaced parallel slots 212 on opposite sides of rod 70. The slots 212 are opposed to and aligned with the respective slots 202 in the locking sleeve or element 94..Rollers 214 are journaled for rotation in the respective slots 212 by hubs 216 which hubs are aligned with one another. The head 124 is guided in its axialmovement by pin 130 engaged in slot 128, as in the first embodiment.

As seen clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rollers 204 are respectively aligned with and parallel to the respective rollers 214 and are opposed to oneanother. The rollers 204 respectively rotate in the same planes as therollers 214.

A fluid-operated piston cylinder assembly. 220 includes a piston 222 which reciprocates in a bore or cylinder 224 communicating with the enlargement 28 of bore 28 and extends across body 26. A cover plate 226 closes one end of thebore 224 andhasa port 228 for admitting'fluidunder pressure, such as hydraulic fluid, toadvance the piston 222. The cover plate 226 also has ableed hole 229.- .The other end of bore 224 is closed by a cover plate 230. A pin 232-carried by cover plate 230 extendsinto the bore 224 and provides an abutment stop limiting the advance of piston222.

The piston 222 is provided with an integral extension 240. A wedge 242 is provided which is in the form of a yoke. The legs 244 of the wedge straddle the rod and are pinned to the pistonextension 240 by a pin 246 as seen in FIG. 8. The wedge is disposed between the slotted endportions 200 and 210 of the locking sleeve or element 94 and head 124. The wedge 242 has the inclined wedging surfaces 250 and 252 respectively facing the rollers 204 and 214 and contacted by the rollers as clearly seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The wedge 242 on its forward end has a pin-shaped extension 260 which is aligned with the pin 232 carried by'cover plate 230. A compression coil spring 262 encircles the pins 232 and 260 and is compressed between the cover plate 230 and the wedge. The spring 262 urges the piston 222 to its retracted position.

In use, when fluid pressure in cylinder 224 relieved, the spring 262 returns the piston 222, downward in FIG. 7, retracting wedge 242. Accordingly, the locking sleeve or elements 94 and 96 release the plunger 48 so that it may be adjusted. When fluid under pressure is delivered to cylinder 224 to move the piston 222 toward stop 232, the wedge 242, acting on the rollers 204 and 214, spreads the locking sleeve or element 94 and head 124 apart to thus pull the locking sleeves 94 and 96 toward one another so as to pinch or clamp upon and thus lock the plunger 48 in adjusted position. The pin or abutment stop 232 is positioned so as to limit the forward movement of piston 222 but will not interfere with the normal advance of the piston to the where desired by turning the rod'70 and then applying the fastener 126 so as to engage in the adjacent scallop 270.

Except for the foregoing changes, the modification of FIGS. 6l1 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1-5.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved fluid operated spring loaded jack lock assembly in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A work supporting and locking device comprising a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a work-engaging plunger reciprocally movable in on of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element of each side of said plunger, said elements having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, said actuating means including an actuating rod extending through one of said elements and through an opening in said plunger into engagement with the other of said elements, said actuating means also comprising means in said other bore providing cam surfaces associatedwith said elements, camming means in said other bore acting upon said cam surfaces to move them relative to one another in response to movement of said camming means, and power means for operating said actuating means, said power means being operatively connected to said camming means to move the latter.

2. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said cam surfaces are opposed to one another and said camming means is between said opposed cam surfaces.

3. The device defined in claim 2, wherein said camming means includes a-rotatable member mounted on said rod having peripheral gear teeth, and said power means includes a rack engaging said teeth.

4. A work supporting and locking device comprising a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a work-engaging plunger reciprocally movable in one of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element on each side of said plunger, said elements, having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, power means for operating said actuating means, said actuating means comprising means providing cam surfaces associated with said elements, camming means acting upon said cam surfaces to move them relative to one another in response to movement of said camming means, said cam surfaces being opposed to one another and said camming means is between said opposed cam surfaces, said camming means including a rotatable member having peripheral gear teeth, and said power means including a rack engaging said teeth, fluid-pressure means for moving said rack in one direction, and spring means for moving said rack in the opposite direction.

5. The device defined in claim 2,. wherein said camming means includes a rotatable member mounted on said rod, and anti-friction means carried by said rotatable member and engaging said cam surfaces.

6. A work supporting and locking device comprising a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a work-engaging plunger reciprocally movable in one of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element on each side of said plunger, said elements having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, said actuating means including an actuating rod extending through one of said elements and through an opening in said plunger into engagement v on said rod between said one element and said head,

and anti-friction means carried by said rotatable member and engaging said cam surfaces.

8. The device defined in claim 7, wherein said antifriction means comprises a line of balls freely mounted in an axially extending bore in said rotatable member, the end balls contacting said cam surfaces.

9. A work supporting and locking device comprising a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a work-engaging plunger reciprocally movable in one of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element on each side of said plunger, said elements having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, power means for operating said actuating means, said actuating means including a rod secured to one of said elements and extending slidably through the other of said elements, a head on said rod spaced from said other element, cam surfaces on the opposed faces of said other element and said head, camming means acting upon said cam surfaces in response to movement of said camming means, said power means being operatively connected to said camming means to move the latter, said camming means including a member rotatably mounted on said rod between said other element and said head, and anti-friction means carried by said rotatable member and engaging said cam surfaces, said anti-friction means comprising a line of balls freely mounted in an axially extending bore in said rotatable-member, the end balls contacting said camsurfaces, said rotatable member having peripheral gear teeth, said power means including a rack meshing with said teeth, fluidpressure operated piston-cylinder means for moving said rack in one direction, and spring means for moving said rack in the opposite direction between the periods of operation of said piston-cylinder means.

10. A work supporting and locking device compris ing a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a workengaging plunger reciprocally movable in one of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element on each side of said plunger, said elements having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, said actuating means including an actuating rod extending through one of said elements and through an opening in said plunger into engagement with the other of said elements, a head in said other bore spaced from said one element, said head being connected to said actuating rod, the opposed faces of said one element and said head providing opposed bearing surfaces, a wedge between said opposed bear ing surfaces, said wedge having an opening through which said rod extends, and power means for operating said actuating means, said power means being operatively connected to said wedge which is operable to move said bearing surfaces apart and to urge said elements toward one another as aforesaid.

11. The device defined in claim 10, wherein said opposed bearing surfaces have anti-friction means contacting said wedge.

12. The device defined in claim 11, wherein said anti-friction means comprise rollers.

13. The device defined in claim 12, wherein said power means includes a fluid operated piston-cylinder assembly having a cylinder and a piston reciprocal within said cylinder, and said wedge is connected to and movable with said piston.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORREQTWN Patent No. 3,690,641 Dated September 12, l972 Inventor-(x) Dean A. Claycomb It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 3, line 30 of patent, "contacts" should be --contact (application, page 7, line 19) Col. 3, line 55 of patent, after "6 insert a parenthesis (application, page 8, line 19.)

Col. 7, line 15 (Claim 1) "on" should be -one-, (application Claim 1, line 3) Col. 7, line 19 (Claim 1) "of", first occurrence, should be -on (application Claim 1, line 7) I Col. 7, line 32 (Claim 1) of patent, "sociatedwith should be -sociated with (application, Claim 1, lines 17 and 18) Col. 7, line 32 (Claim 1) of patent, after "elements", insert -and spaced from the locking surfaces on said elements,- (Claim 1, line 19 of application) Col. 9, line 10 of patent, "camsurfaces" should be --cam surfaces-(Claim 10, lines 28 and 29 of application (amendment dated January 11, 1972, pages 4 and 5) Signed and sealed this 27th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER.JR. RQBERT C ALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents "ORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.$, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 0-366-334 

1. A work supporting and locking device comprising a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a work-engaging plunger reciprocally movable in on of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element of each side of said plunger, said elements having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, said actuating means including an actuating rod extending through one of said elements and through an opening in said plunger into engagement with the other of said elements, said actuating means also comprising means in said other bore providing cam surfaces associatedwith said elements, camming means in said other bore acting upon said cam surfaces to move them relative to one another in response to movement of said camming means, and power means for operating said actuating means, said power means being operatively connected to said camming means to move the latter.
 2. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said cam surfaces are opposed to one another and said camming means is between said opposed cam surfaces.
 3. The device defined in claim 2, wherein said camming means includes a rotatable member mounted on said rod having peripheral gear teeth, and said power means includes a rack engaging said teeth.
 4. A work supporting and locking device comprising a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a work-engaging plunger reciprocally movable in one of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element on each side of said plunger, said elements, having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, power means for operating said actuating means, said actuating means comprising means providing cam surfaces associated with said elements, camminG means acting upon said cam surfaces to move them relative to one another in response to movement of said camming means, said cam surfaces being opposed to one another and said camming means is between said opposed cam surfaces, said camming means including a rotatable member having peripheral gear teeth, and said power means including a rack engaging said teeth, fluid-pressure means for moving said rack in one direction, and spring means for moving said rack in the opposite direction.
 5. The device defined in claim 2, wherein said camming means includes a rotatable member mounted on said rod, and anti-friction means carried by said rotatable member and engaging said cam surfaces.
 6. A work supporting and locking device comprising a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a work-engaging plunger reciprocally movable in one of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element on each side of said plunger, said elements having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, said actuating means including an actuating rod extending through one of said elements and through an opening in said plunger into engagement with the other of said elements, a head on said rod spaced from said one element, cam surfaces on the opposed faces of said one element and said head, camming means acting upon said cam surfaces in response to movement of said camming means, and power means for operating said actuating means, said power means being operatively connected to said camming means to move the latter.
 7. THe device defined in claim 6, wherein said camming means includes a member rotatably mounted on said rod between said one element and said head, and anti-friction means carried by said rotatable member and engaging said cam surfaces.
 8. The device defined in claim 7, wherein said anti-friction means comprises a line of balls freely mounted in an axially extending bore in said rotatable member, the end balls contacting said cam surfaces.
 9. A work supporting and locking device comprising a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a work-engaging plunger reciprocally movable in one of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element on each side of said plunger, said elements having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, power means for operating said actuating means, said actuating means including a rod secured to one of said elements and extending slidably through the other of said elements, a head on said rod spaced from said other element, cam surfaces on the opposed faces of said other element and said head, camming means acting upon said cam surfaces in response to movement of said camming means, said power means being operatively connected to said camming means to move the latter, said camming means including a member rotatably mounted on said rod between said other element and said head, and anti-friction means carried by said rotatable member and engaging said cam surfaces, said anti-friction means comprising a line of balls freely mounted in an axially extending bore in said rotatable member, the end balls contacting said camsurfaces, said rotatable member haVing peripheral gear teeth, said power means including a rack meshing with said teeth, fluid-pressure operated piston-cylinder means for moving said rack in one direction, and spring means for moving said rack in the opposite direction between the periods of operation of said piston-cylinder means.
 10. A work supporting and locking device comprising a body having a pair of intersecting bores, a work-engaging plunger reciprocally movable in one of said bores and extending into the other of said bores, said plunger having at opposite sides thereof a pair of locking surfaces, locking means in said other bore comprising slidably movable elements, one element on each side of said plunger, said elements having on the adjacent ends thereof locking surfaces which are engageable with the opposite locking surfaces on said plunger, actuating means for urging said elements toward one another to cause the locking surfaces of said elements to engage the corresponding locking surfaces of said plunger to fixedly locate said plunger in a work-supporting position, said actuating means including an actuating rod extending through one of said elements and through an opening in said plunger into engagement with the other of said elements, a head in said other bore spaced from said one element, said head being connected to said actuating rod, the opposed faces of said one element and said head providing opposed bearing surfaces, a wedge between said opposed bearing surfaces, said wedge having an opening through which said rod extends, and power means for operating said actuating means, said power means being operatively connected to said wedge which is operable to move said bearing surfaces apart and to urge said elements toward one another as aforesaid.
 11. The device defined in claim 10, wherein said opposed bearing surfaces have anti-friction means contacting said wedge.
 12. The device defined in claim 11, wherein said anti-friction means comprise rollers.
 13. The device defined in claim 12, wherein said power means includes a fluid operated piston-cylinder assembly having a cylinder and a piston reciprocal within said cylinder, and said wedge is connected to and movable with said piston. 